Meaning of jape in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /dʒeɪp/

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    UK accent Play button

  1. Noun

    jape

    Etymology

    Middle English: apparently combining the form of Old French japer‘to yelp, yap’ with the sense of Old French gaber‘to mock’

    Definitions

    1. a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

    Examples

    • « he told a very funny joke »
    • « he knows a million gags »
    • « thanks for the laugh »
    • « he laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest »
    • « even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point »

    Derived terms

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